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Ohio Dems and Repubs vote to block third parties. Probably too scared to hear different opinions and keep it a two party monopoly. How do you grow a party when they aren't allowed to debate? Best interest of the people or protecting their own ass?

Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is the largest, most active, and fastest-growing pro-liberty organization on America's college campuses. With nearly 500 chapters and 125,000 student activists nationwide, YAL seeks to identify, educate, train, and mobilize young people committed to winning on principle.

Last edited by Franco; 10-17-2013 at 09:40 PM.

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge

Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) is the largest, most active, and fastest-growing pro-liberty organization on America's college campuses. With nearly 500 chapters and 125,000 student activists nationwide, YAL seeks to identify, educate, train, and mobilize young people committed to winning on principle.

You just have to love these young activist willing to further the cause for Liberty!

"Minnesota YAL chapters got together with other local activists to learn about gun safety and the Second Amendment: "We spent the entire morning dropping literature, then headed to a farm owned by a YAL alumnus from Iowa for a shooting day."

Ya'll can be for them or against, but I'm 100% in support of these folks!

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge

Franco, you deserve credit for being a tireless advocate for the Libertarians as being a third party. However it is doubtful that it will arrive on the scene with any punch in the foreseeable future. First it has no nationally visible candidates in office, let any one with enough charisma to be a rallying point. Any incumbent office holder is unlikely to seek a third party nomination as it is usually ends up as political hare-kari.

Secondly, there is the issue of having the experienced cadre of ground troops to conduct a viable national campaign. A few enthusiastic, but green college kids are no substitute for a ground team that is well generaled by experienced hands. As I am sure you know politics are not a children's crusade.

Third, is matter of cash. The Supreme Court has opened the floodgates on campaign donations. If anything that will alone drown out any voice a third party has to present. The really big donors are going to cycle their money to who they think is going to be a sure fire winner. Third parties have a dismal track record. Being a radio man you know how expensive media buys can get. Even good professional copy writers don't come cheap. The last third party to make it to the big time was the Republican Party with the election of Lincoln a century and a half ago. They did not have the menu of media outlets that exist today.

Fourth is the matter of experience governing. One of the problems we currently see is a freshman class of neophytes in congress has been an unmitigated disaster. Sure they're going to shake things up like an earthquake and bring everything down like one, too. Statesmanship is not learned overnight.

Fifth, the system of winner takes all makes the road rocky for any third party. Election laws of many states make it extremely difficult for a third party to gain access to the ballot. The major parties also have a tendency to steal the thunder of a third party at a point where the nascent party's program gains the interest of the public. It makes it darn hard to maintain brand identity.

I don't see any third party, including the Libertarians, as making an impact inside of a decade. By that time, the political dynamics may well change causing the movement to become irrelevant.

Sorry to be so pessimistic. I'd like to see some alternatives, too. But, alas, the cards are double stacked against it.

Franco, you deserve credit for being a tireless advocate for the Libertarians as being a third party. However it is doubtful that it will arrive on the scene with any punch in the foreseeable future. First it has no nationally visible candidates in office, let any one with enough charisma to be a rallying point. Any incumbent office holder is unlikely to seek a third party nomination as it is usually ends up as political hare-kari. Current Repub Rep Justin Amash who calls himself a Libertarian Repub has a future with the Party. Gov Gary Johnson has the charisma and ideas to win. Major problem is the media boycott of the Party. The Party is growing everyday because we are winning on principle. One can't ignore the growing dissatisfaction with the current two Parties and the fact that MOST people can't identify with them.

Secondly, there is the issue of having the experienced cadre of ground troops to conduct a viable national campaign. A few enthusiastic, but green college kids are no substitute for a ground team that is well generaled by experienced hands. As I am sure you know politics are not a children's crusade. We had more ground troops than Romney!!! Our candidate was shut out of the debates and the media. That's why we've spent so much time working at the state level. Look at Ohio this week, the Repubs and Dems leaders of the state voted to disallow any third parties to cover their ass! At the college level where we are the largest political group but also at the state level we are the hardest workers. WE have candidates in 9 governorship races, numerous candidates for House and Senate as well as candidates for state government.

Nothing in politics is stronger than a message in which its time has come!

Third, is matter of cash. The Supreme Court has opened the floodgates on campaign donations. If anything that will alone drown out any voice a third party has to present. The really big donors are going to cycle their money to who they think is going to be a sure fire winner. Third parties have a dismal track record. Being a radio man you know how expensive media buys can get. Even good professional copy writers don't come cheap. The last third party to make it to the big time was the Republican Party with the election of Lincoln a century and a half ago. They did not have the menu of media outlets that exist today. True, our candidates can't be bought. Yes, the Repub Party is 160 years old but, look at the condition they are in today. If a third party doesn't arise, then it will be all Dems because the Repubs are appealing to less and less people everyday! The Libertarian message is spot on and that is why it is growing inspite of the media boycott. They won't be able to ignore the Party much longer. Read the Platform at lp.org

Fourth is the matter of experience governing. One of the problems we currently see is a freshman class of neophytes in congress has been an unmitigated disaster. Sure they're going to shake things up like an earthquake and bring everything down like one, too. Statesmanship is not learned overnight. Doesn't take away from the fact that the Dems and Repubs don't represent the growing middle of people who cherish their Liberties, are Fiscally Conservative and Socially tolerant. A much strong message than what we have today coming from the Dems and Repubs! Fifth, the system of winner takes all makes the road rocky for any third party. Election laws of many states make it extremely difficult for a third party to gain access to the ballot. The major parties also have a tendency to steal the thunder of a third party at a point where the nascent party's program gains the interest of the public. It makes it darn hard to maintain brand identity. We are working to change the boycott. We will win through ideas, principle and being in the right place at the right time with the right message.

I don't see any third party, including the Libertarians, as making an impact inside of a decade. By that time, the political dynamics may well change causing the movement to become irrelevant.

I think you are being short-sighted. Political revolutions do not happen overnight or in one or two election cycles. Our message is the strongest of the three and once people realize that they have an alternative, just watch what happens. I suggest you watch the link I posted in post #3.

Sorry to be so pessimistic. I'd like to see some alternatives, too. But, alas, the cards are double stacked against it.

We are a Party of activist and we will not stand around and let the Dems and Repubs to continue to destroy this country!

My replies in red.

Last edited by Franco; 10-18-2013 at 08:33 AM.

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge

In Minnesota we have a 5% rule. If a third party garners 5% in a statewide election then the state considers it a major party. All others can gain access to a ballot by petition.

The Independence Party did win the governorship under Jesse Ventura and briefly Dean Barkley served as a US senator appointed by Ventura to fill out a vacant seat. The party fielded a premium grade cabinet that had promise. Ventura's egocentric behavior eventually eclipsed the cabinet. His peevishness sank any chance of a second term. The party ran a high profile conservative former congressman as a replacement and lost badly. Since then it ekes out it 5%, but has faded dramatically.

Ventura won in a vacuum of sorts. Skip Humphrey(D) and Norm Coleman(R) each had cadres of critics. Both of them got caught in a very vicious fur ball with all the venom of lawyers seeking a jugular. It got to be too ugly for Minnesota Nice and the electorate picked Ventura.

In Minnesota we have a 5% rule. If a third party garners 5% in a statewide election then the state considers it a major party. All others can gain access to a ballot by petition.

The Independence Party did win the governorship under Jesse Ventura and briefly Dean Barkley served as a US senator appointed by Ventura to fill out a vacant seat. The party fielded a premium grade cabinet that had promise. Ventura's egocentric behavior eventually eclipsed the cabinet. His peevishness sank any chance of a second term. The party ran a high profile conservative former congressman as a replacement and lost badly. Since then it ekes out it 5%, but has faded dramatically.

Ventura won in a vacuum of sorts. Skip Humphrey(D) and Norm Coleman(R) each had cadres of critics. Both of them got caught in a very vicious fur ball with all the venom of lawyers seeking a jugular. It got to be too ugly for Minnesota Nice and the electorate picked Ventura.

Different challenges today especially on the National front. The Dems are moving further left and the Repubs are moving further right. Listening to Michael McComish(sp) on the drive home yesterday on POTUS Sirius/XM and the subject was, "do the Dems or Repubs represent your views"? The callers overwhelming said NO! There is a huge need today for a Party that is Fiscally Conservative and Socially tolerant and that is what the Libertarian Party is. The ONLY Party that holds The Constitution in high regards!

Last edited by Franco; 10-18-2013 at 09:10 AM.

Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery. Calvin Coolidge